Experts say women are at especially high risk for health problems stemming from lost sleep; both biological and sociological factors may be to blame for women’s sleep troubles. During Better Sleep Month, health advocates urge women to get regular exercise, quit smoking, reduce alcohol and caffeine intake, and follow other tips that will help them sleep more soundly.
Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine, such as soaking in a hot bath, then reading a book. Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable, and cool. Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex, and finish eating at least two hours before bedtime. Try to clear your mind of worries that might keep you awake. Meditate. Pray.
You can and should get the rest that you deserve!
This message was adapted from the “Get Your Zzzzs!” article written by Molly M. Ginty that first appeared in the May 2006 issue of Lutheran Woman Today (now Gather) magazine.